University social responsibility and core competitiveness: A narrative review in the context of private universities in China

Abstract

University Social Responsibility (USR) is increasingly recognized as a strategic element in enhancing the competitiveness of higher education institutions, particularly in the context of private universities in China. This study aims to explore the relationship between the implementation of USR and the core competitiveness of universities through a narrative review approach. The main focus of this study is to identify the dimensions of USR, analyze the factors influencing core competitiveness, and examine the mechanisms of the relationship between these two constructs. This study adopts a qualitative approach in the form of a narrative review based on secondary literature analysis from indexed databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. The selected articles are within the period of 2020 to 2025 and are analyzed using thematic analysis methods to identify key patterns, themes, and relationships. The findings of the study show that USR has a significant influence on university core competitiveness through several main mechanisms, namely the enhancement of institutional reputation, improvement of stakeholder satisfaction, empowerment of innovation and collaboration, formation of a positive organizational culture, and strengthening of institutional adaptability. In addition, the findings also indicate that the dimensions of USR are interrelated and produce a synergistic effect on overall institutional development. In the context of private universities in China, USR is found to play an important role as a strategy in addressing challenges such as resource constraints, intense competition, and issues of public trust. This study also emphasizes that USR is not merely a social activity, but a strategic institutional development approach capable of enhancing sustainable competitive advantage. The implications of the study highlight the need to integrate USR into university strategic planning, strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, and ensure more comprehensive policy support from the government. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of USR as a driver of university core competitiveness, particularly in the rapidly developing context of private higher education in China.